A Course Of Lectures On Dramatic Art And Literature

August Wilhelm Schlegel (1767-1845) published Lectures on Dramatic Art and Literature containing 30 lectures given in Vienna in 1809. Schlegel states "My purpose was to give a general view, and to develope those ideas which ought to guide us in our estimate of the value of the dramatic productions of various ages and nations." This series of lectures shows the in depth study August Schlegel has made of his subject matter. Essays include Euripides--His Merits and Defects--Decline of Tragic Poetry through him, Criticisms on Shakspeare's Comedies, Comparison of the English and Spanish Theatres--Spirit of the Romantic Drama--Shakspeare--His Age and the Circumstances of his Life, and Structure of the Stage among the Greeks--Their Acting--Use of Masks-False comparison of Ancient Tragedy to the Opera--Tragical Lyric Poetry.

Excerpt from A Course of Lectures on Dramatic Art and Literature, Vol. 1 of 2 A constant habit of analysis gradually induces a dis position to continue the process in a circle, and thence in a series of circles, to the exclusion of any satisfactory result in which the mind and feelings can rest for the only result Obtained, being thus self-involved, or ending where it began, induces dissatisfaction in all things; impairs with morbific and multiplying doubts the facul ties of the mind and when at length this habit, having passed through all its stages of abstract speculation, has, finally, fastened its searching and dismembering talons on the practical relations of life, a more unhappy and pitiable object than an individual so conditioned, we can scarcely imagine to exist among the vast class of self-tormenting mortals. He dissects and decom; poses every motive, however friendly, and, as in the lost and perverse state of Faust, while others enjoy, he reasons on enjoyment. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.